The Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson presented the report of the Director (Policy and Governance) seeking approval for the refresh of the Corporate Strategy 2020/21 – 2022/23.
The Corporate Strategy for 2019/20 has progressed well with big improvements delivered over the year, despite an incredibly challenging environment for delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For 2020/21 – 2022/23, the Corporate Strategy vision, priorities, and long-term outcomes remain the same to maintain the long-term impact of strategic activity and investment. In addition to this, in recognition of the critical importance of the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, key projects have been reviewed and refreshed with the aim of ‘building back better’ and responding to the new needs of the borough and communities, with projects to support community resilience and to revive the town centre.
The following projects are included within the Corporate Strategy:
Involving residents in improving their local area and equality of access for all
· Undertake renovation works at Astley Hall
· Deliver year one of the shared digital strategy
· Implement the community resilience locality action plans
Clean, safe and healthy communities
· Deliver the extra care scheme and community facilities at Tatton
· Improve play and community spaces across the borough
· Implement the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy action plan
A strong local economy
· Deliver the employment land at Alker Lane
· Deliver improvements to the town centre
· Bring forward site at Bengal Street
An ambitious Council that does more to meet the needs of residents and the local area
· Deliver phase 2 of Shared Services
· Extend the borough wide programme of improvements to street services
· Work with our partners to deliver sustainable public services
· Deliver a project to support Chorley Council’s commitment to the green agenda
The performance measures that help know how the council is getting better and achieving long-term goals have also been reviewed and updated. Seven indicators have been amended to reflect service changes or better align to future priorities. Twelve indicators have also been included to support the corporate strategy measures to capture the recovery from the pandemic and track the progress of ‘building back better’.
The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor John Walker, noted the proposals regarding housing and school places. Councillor Peter Wilson acknowledged the concerns regarding government policy on housing numbers and the proposals for changes to the planning system. Councillor Bradley highlighted the issue of school places and expressed a wish to have more control over this.
Members noted proposals to advance the green agenda and commended officers for their work on distributing grants to businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Before taking a decision on these proposals, Members considered alternative proposals put forward by the Conservative Group in the following agenda item.